Tampa Sepsis & Infections Attorney

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is an extremely difficult decision. You want to make sure the facility is providing the necessary care and treating your loved one with the respect they deserve. Sadly, some residents in a long-term care facility don’t get the care they require. When a nursing home fails to provide the necessary care to its residents, the patients can suffer serious consequences. One of these is infection, which can lead to severe medical conditions like sepsis. Sepsis is extremely dangerous, and can result in catastrophic consequences, including death.

If your loved one contracted sepsis in a nursing home, it’s imperative that you speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse attorney right away. The attorneys at Goudie & Kohn, P.A. have experience helping families get the compensation they deserve after a loved one was the victim of nursing home abuse in Florida.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when infection and inflammation spread through someone’s bloodstream. When the infection enters the bloodstream, it causes a chemical reaction that is attempting to fight the infection. The whole body can become inflamed which leads to damage to multiple organ systems, and even death in some cases. Some of the most common types of infections that can cause sepsis include kidney, abdominal, and/or bloodstream.

Someone who has sepsis needs immediate medical attention because if it proceeds to more severe stages, like severe sepsis or septic shock, it can quickly lead to death. Elderly and other people whose immune systems are compromised are the people at the greatest risk for sepsis.

How to Diagnose Sepsis?

There are three main stages of sepsis — sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. It’s imperative to know the warning signs and get treatment at the earliest stage if there is a chance the patient will pull through. Here are some symptoms of each stage of sepsis to watch for:

Stage One (Sepsis): Symptoms in the initial stage include low body temperature below 95 degrees or a fever above 101.3 degrees; rapid heartbeat with over 90 beats per minute; and rapid respiration rate of more than 20 breaths per minute.

Stage Two (Severe Sepsis): Stage two symptoms increase to include a difficulty in breathing; pain the abdomen and stomach area; decrease in urine output; changes to the patient’s mental state; and abnormalities to the heart’s pumping rate and speed.

Stage Three (Septic Shock): If sepsis is not diagnosed, it can cause the patient to go into a state of shock. One of the most severe symptoms is a major drop in blood pressure. If this happens to someone who has a compromised immune system or is elderly, it can be very difficult for medical professionals to restore the patient’s blood pressure back to normal. This can cause the patient to pass away.

Retaining a Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

If your loved one has been diagnosed with sepsis or passed away due to septic shock, it’s important to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse attorney right away. Contact the skilled team at Goudie & Kohn, P.A. at 813-428-8504 to schedule a consultation.

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